The future of mobility in aerospace and defense
Rapidly developing technologies in the future of flying cars
While flying cars may sound as if they belong in science fiction, rapidly developing technologies in aerospace and aircraft design seem to have brought them closer to reality—potentially helping to create a faster, cheaper, cleaner, safer, and more integrated transportation system. Below are a series of articles exploring autonomous aerial passenger vehicles and opportunities and challenges facing the next era of elevated mobility.
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Blogs
- Ready for take-off: eVTOLs and the aviation ecosystem
by Robin Lineberger, US and Global Aerospace & Defense Leader - The future of flight: Five things Canadians need to know
by Gérald Faustino, Canada Aerospace & Defense Leader
Future of elevated mobility
Major aircraft manufacturers, technology startups, and network operators are taking the business of urban aerial transportation seriously and investors have already put hundreds of millions of dollars toward research and development. Despite the progress, there are various challenges to consider with respect to consumer acceptance, safety, regulations, infrastructure, and air traffic management.
There is an important and exciting dialogue occurring between industry players, leaders, and investors about the future of transportation. Innovative technology and consumer trends are changing the speed of development. It won’t be long before entirely autonomous and tailored systems will be ready to transport individuals by land and air. This series aims to map out what that transformative future will look like and how soon it will be a reality.
Urban Air Mobility
As more people move to cities, urban air mobility (UAM)—or air taxis—could help reduce roadway congestion and transform the way people travel. But according to a recent Deloitte global automotive consumer survey, consumer enthusiasm about the viability of UAM has stalled due to safety concerns.
It seems like a natural evolution to leverage airspace for urban mobility, yet challenges abound—infrastructure and regulatory constraints, as well as technological. But the biggest challenge might be to prepare consumers for this new reality. This report explores how manufacturers and regulators can collaborate to build consumer confidence in UAM.
Infrastructural barriers
While several challenges to urban air mobility (UAM) taking flight remain, one key factor is infrastructure. Manufacturers have made progress on the aircraft themselves, but the infrastructure necessary to support and enable scaled people and cargo transportation in urban and suburban areas is not yet in place.
This article aims to explore what must happen—on the ground and over the airwaves—to enable a future that includes electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Key challenges include:
Designing and implementing the required ground infrastructure
Developing safe and efficient eVTOL operations which requires robust communication and unmanned air traffic management (UTM) system
Making urban air transport seamless, requiring a well-developed mobility-as-a-service (MaaS)
The pivotal role of cities in making UAM a reality—and a success
Technological barriers to the elevated future of mobility
Companies are developing flying vehicles capable of carrying passengers and cargo in urban environments, with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities for flexibility and safety. So what's keeping them grounded? Several key technological barriers need to be overcome before air taxis take to the skies and enable the future of autonomous vehicles to take flight
This article explores technological barriers currently hindering companies that want to take part in this ecosystem—successfully lifting people and products in flying vehicles and transporting them safely, affordably, and expediently to their destinations—and some approaches to addressing these barriers.
Psychological barriers to the elevated future of mobility
Are consumers ready to take to the skies?
Flying vehicles are expected to be ready to enter the future mobility landscape soon. However, a new global survey shows that consumers are highly skeptical about the future of autonomous vehicles, especially when it comes to perceived safety. To help instill public confidence—and ultimately foster adoption—regulators, creators, and operators will all play an important and unique role.
This article explores why popular consumer acceptance will be key to getting the elevated future of mobility off the ground and how industry stakeholders can take part.
Managing the evolving skies
Unmanned aircraft system traffic management, the key enabler
As aerial technology is transforming the way people perceive aviation, the rise of flying vehicles, including passenger and delivery drones with vertical takeoff and landing capability, has demonstrated strong potential to address urban congestion, improve logistics, and create new products and markets.
This article explores challenges and solutions critical to the success of all stakeholders in the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) ecosystem and illustrates how a UAV traffic management (UTM) system can ensure safe and efficient operations for the future of autonomous vehicles.
Elevating the future of mobility
Passenger drones and flying cars
In the midst of an already dramatic transformation in how people and goods move around, a new class of vehicles is emerging: flying vehicles. Advances in the development of urban air travel could add an entirely new dimension to an already complex landscape as the future of autonomous vehicles unfolds.
While still nascent, this mode of travel represents a significant business opportunity for those who can design, build, operate, maintain, and deliver passenger drones, urban air travel, and related services. This article explores the future of autonomous vehicles, specifically flying vehicles, and the emerging market for passenger drones and urban air travel.
